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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Music Review:

Spirit – Amos Lee****

On his sixth studio album, and first since 2013’s excellent Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song, Amos Lee serves as producer for the first time and transforms his sound from the previous album’s folk/country sound to a full-band gospel-soul-R&B sound. Lee builds on his concert experiences to make his new sound more dynamic, including an effective use of horns, organ, and background vocals. In addition to members of his road band, he brought in drummer Mark Colenburg and bassist Adam Blackstone to punch up his rhythm section. Lee’s voice has also never sounded better on this album recorded at a converted Nashville church. I liked this album and the energy in the music a lot, though lyrically many of the songs are about relationships that have gone bad.

This is one the top releases of 2016 thus far. Here are a few comments about each of the songs on the album:

New Love – Opens with piano and then shows off the new full-band sound, particularly the horns with Jeff Coffin on saxophone and Rashawn Ross on trumpet. The song is about the joy of new love, while at the same time showing off the band’s exciting new sound.Running Out of Time – Since hearing of his “new found faith” on “Windows Rolled Down” on Mission Bell, I’ve been looking for signs of faith and spirituality from Lee. You find it here on this gospel song, featuring hand claps and a repeated refrain of “Lord have mercy” as he is running out of time. This song is about the brevity of life. Lee called it “A reminder and a recognizing of the impermanence we share here on earth”. The upbeat song includes a reference to a train, a common theme in Lee’s music. It also features some excellent horns and organ.
Spirit – Lee has stated that he wrote this song after being moved by a New Orleans street singer he encountered who had a deep connection with his music. He refers to the “pain that she gave to me”, one of several references to a painful breakup that Lee writes about on the album. The song features piano, organ and background vocals. Lee sings that he just wants to feel the spirit wash over him.
Lost Child – One reviewer compares this song to Stevie Wonder from his Innervisions period. I don’t disagree. Through the pain he can see the clouds drifting away for a celebration day. The music is upbeat and catchy, featuring a great vocal, horns, drums and background vocals.
Highways and Clouds – Lee has stated that for this song he didn’t want to just do the standard waltz feel that’s led by the acoustic guitar, but wanted to add dimensions to the arrangements and try to transform them, rhythmically and instrumentally, so that the album was cohesive. This song opens with acapella vocals, followed quickly by Lee’s and Luther Dickinson’s guitars, and then drums, keyboards and horns. This is another story song. The singer is from the Badlands. Highways and clouds meet in the middle. Features some effective backing vocals.Lightly – This is another of Lee’s “story songs”. He is from “all over”, was born in the wind, and has learned to travel lightly, living alone, and if he moves fast enough the darkness can’t catch up to him. Features some good background vocals and guitar. That comes through beautifully on a striking ballad called Lightly, which Lee builds around a surprisingly elegant banjo riffThat comes through beautifully on a striking ballad called Lightly, which Lee builds around a surprisingly elegant banjo riffThat comes through beautifully on a striking ballad called Lightly, which Lee builds around a surprisingly elegant banjo riffOne Lonely Light – This beautiful song starts as an acoustic number and gently builds. The singer states that there are times when he doesn’t feel like he is “a damn bit of good”. He sings of pain on this gospel flavored song, which features good backing vocals. He sings of storms in the night with waves raging and crashing and winds howling. What is the lonely light he sings of? Is it a woman? Is it God? Who is he singing to as he sings “Oh I’ll sing for you, what more can I do, Oh I’ll sing for you”.
Wait Up For Me – This songs features an acoustic guitar, piano, accordion, mandolin and gentle backing vocals. The singer encourages a woman to wait up for him so she doesn’t have to be alone. He is on the road, lost in the world, ragged and blue. But he’s coming home. Musically, this song would fit on Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song.
Til You Come Back Through – Lee sings in falsetto here as he delivers an outstanding vocal performance. He sings to a woman he has been waiting his whole life for, but she is leaving forever. He has no choice but to say good-bye until she comes back through. Features acoustic guitar and keyboards, but the focus is on Lee’s emotional vocal.
Hurt Me – This song features punchy strings. It’s another song about a relationship that has gone bad. He’s feeling blown away and is at the breaking point. He doesn’t know how he will make it through the day. He doesn’t want mercy tonight and asks if she is strong enough to watch him die. He sings that he’s begging her to free the pain that locks me up inside.
Vaporize – The first single from the album, this is another song about a painful relationship that has gone bad. Programmed beats and piano open this song. In an emotional vocal, he sings that he’s going to vaporize everything that’s inside and get “high, high, high….”
Walls – Lee sings this song about a failed relationship in falsetto. It has a soft beat punctuated by keys. He sings that she’s writing on his walls that she’s not in love with him anymore and has found someone new. Features some good backing vocals.
With You – This song opens with acoustic guitar and features some amazing strings and vocal from Lee. He is singing to a woman that he doesn’t want to lose. He wants to see another summer and sunsets with her. He’s going to keep her with him wherever she goes.

Facing a Task Unfinished Tour. For those of you in the Midwest, Keith and Kristyn Getty will be bringing their Facing a Task Unfinished Tour back to Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois on October 14. Tickets go on sale September 7. Advance tickets are only $15. You can get them online at http://www.wbnh.org.

Late Nights. I really like this new song from Gawvi from his debut EP Lost in Hue. Check out the video for the song.

10,000 Reasons. Watch Matt Redman perform his song 10,000 Reasons in Times Square.

Hillary Scott – These Three Remain. Lady Antebellum’s leading lady steps out for the first time with her famous family to record an unabashedly Christian album Love Remains, filled with songs built on faith, hope and love.

The Lord is My Salvation. Watch this lyric video of Keith and Kristyn Getty’s song “The Lord is My Salvation” from their new album Facing a Task Unfinished.

Rise Up. Watch this video of “Rise Up” from The Union of Saints and Sinners, featuring Petra’s John Schlitt.

Running Out of Time. Watch this live version of Amos Lee’s excellent new song “Running Out of Time”, which he describes as a “reminder and a recognizing of the impermanence we share here on earth”.

New Chris Tomlin Album. Excited to hear about the new album from Chris Tomlin, Never Lose Sight, to be released October 21.

Late Night. Watch the video for “Late Night” from GAWVI, whose EP Lost in Hue dropped on July 29, and hit #1 on the iTunes Dance charts.

The 10 Greatest Hymns of All-Time. Tim Challies writes “Here are my picks for the ten greatest hymns of all-time. Apart from the first, they are in no particular order.” Which ones would you add to this list?

Church’s Statement Of Faith Comprised Entirely Of U2 Lyrics. The Babylon Bee reports “Local man Greg Fischer reports he was looking for a church online Friday morning after recently relocating from out of state, when he stumbled upon The Wandering Church’s statement of faith. After reviewing several of the key doctrines, he suddenly realized almost the entire statement of faith was copied directly from lyrics by rock band U2.”

Lecrae Interview. On this episode of The Art of Charm podcast Jordan Harbinger talks to award-winning hip hop artist Lecrae about what it’s like to navigate the music industry as an introvert, and staying true to oneself even when surrounded by doubters and would-be defamers.

Music Quotes:

Time and words. Use with caution. You can’t retrieve them. Lecrae

When we know that we are saved, we don’t have to strive to be good enough. Chris Tomlin

Testify by NEEDTOBREATHE

This week’s song of the week is “Testify” from NEEDTOBREATHE’s chart-topping Hard Love album. You can listen to this worship song here.

Give me your heart
Give me your song
Sing it with all your might
Come to the fountain and
You can be satisfied
There is a peace, there is a love
You can get lost inside
Come to the fountain and
Let me hear you testify

Into the wild
Canyons of youth
Oh, there’s a world to fall into
Weightless we’ll dance
Like kids on the moon
Oh, I will give myself to you
As soon as you start to let go

Give me your heart
Give me your song
Sing it with all your might
Come to the fountain and
You can be satisfied
There is a peace, there is a love
You can get lost inside
Come to the fountain and
Let me hear you testify

Wave after wave
As deep calls to deep
Oh, I’ll reveal my mystery
As soon as you start to let go

Give me your heart
Give me your song
Sing it with all your might
Come to the fountain and
You can be satisfied
There is a peace, there is a love
You can get lost inside
Come to the fountain and
Let me hear you testify
There is a peace, there is a love
You can get lost inside
Come to the fountain and
Let me hear you testify

Mist on the mountain
Rising from the ground
There’s no denying beauty makes a sound
We can’t escape it
There’s no way to doubt
Mist on the mountain
Rising all around

Give me your heart
Give me your song
Sing it with all your might
Come to the fountain and
You can be satisfied
There is a peace, there is a love
You can get lost inside
Come to the fountain and
Let me hear you testify
There is a peace, there is a love
You can get lost inside
Come to the fountain and
Let me hear you testify

I’m Bill Pence ~ married to my best friend for more than 38 years and a St. Louis Cardinals fan. Before retiring I served as a manager at a Fortune 50 company; I'm a graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary and in leadership at my local church. I enjoy speaking about calling, vocation and work. I am a life-long learner and have a passion to help people develop to their fullest potential and to utilize their strengths more fully. I am an INTJ on Myers-Briggs, 3 on the Enneagram, my top five Strengthsfinders themes are: Belief, Responsibility, Learner, Harmony and Achiever, and my two StandOut strengths roles are Creator and Equalizer. My favorite book is the Bible, with Romans my favorite book and 2 Corinthians 5:21 my favorite verse. Some of my other favorite books are Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper, The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul, The Prodigal Son (originally titled A Tale of Two Sons) by John MacArthur and Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I enjoy Christian hip-hop/rap music, with Lecrae, Trip Lee and Andy Mineo being some of favorite artists.